View clinical trials related to Steatohepatitis, Nonalcoholic.
Filter by:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent condition, and when fatty liver is associated with inflammation and hepatocellular injury (steatohepatitis), it can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for NAFLD assessment but has several drawbacks. Several drugs for NASH are now in phase 2-3 trials, and if medical treatments become available, non-invasive tools to identify patients who may benefit from a therapeutic intervention will be strongly needed. Some imaging methods have shown promising potential in fibrosis and NASH diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive imaging methods, including ultrasound (US) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) techniques, in diagnosing NASH and fibrosis in patients with or at high risk of NAFLD, using liver biopsy as the reference standard. Consecutive patients with a clinical indication for liver biopsy assessment of NAFLD are enrolled in this non-inferiority study. They undergo both a liver US and a multiparametric unenhanced liver MR examination. As reference standard, histological diagnosis of fibrosis and steatohepatitis made according to the fatty liver inhibition of progression (FLIP) algorithm is used. Sensitivity and specificity of imaging parameters alone or in different combinations will be calculated with the aim of finding one or more tests with at least 90% sensitivity/specificity compared to liver biopsy.
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - also called fatty liver - is medically a serious problem because the liver tissue becomes fatty and stiff, and inflammatory reactions occur. This increases the risk of liver fibrosis (= scarring of the liver), liver cirrhosis (= shrunken liver), a liver tumor or death. So far there is no recognized treatment option for this disease. However, there is evidence that a lifestyle change based on a reduced carbohydrate diet, more exercise and a significant weight loss that can improve NASH.